The Portland Trail Blazers gave the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the 2025-26 season, overcoming a 22-point deficit to win 121-119. It snaps a 16-game losing streak Portland had against Oklahoma City, as interim head coach Tiago Splitter gets a fresh start at 1-0.
The Thunder were shorthanded, missing key pieces such as Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso. Still, that shouldn't detract from how impressive this win was for Portland. They were coming off a loss to the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers and were able to bounce back in a winning way that fans haven't seen from this Blazers team in quite some time.
Deni Avdija was the epitome of this, as he was able to lead Portland to victory despite a horrid shooting night. Avdija entered the fourth quarter shooting 1-of-12 from the field. He then went 4-of-5 from the field and added three assists to lead the Blazers to the shocking comeback upset.
Deni Avdija continues to strengthen his All-Star case
Avdija finished the contest with 26 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and three stocks. Looking at this well-rounded stat line, you never would've guessed that he shot just 5-of-17 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. Only stars can turn a bad night into a winning performance, and that's precisely what Avdija did.
During the game, Blazers analytics insider Tom Haberstroh made his case for Avdija to make his first All-Star game this season, noting he's putting up similar numbers as past All-Stars. The Blazers' broadcasters highlighted Avdija's improved three-point shot as a key factor in his All-Star-level leap, as he's shooting 36% on a career-high 6.3 three-point attempts per game this season.
However, another factor that is taking his game to the next level is his ability to get to the charity stripe, where he shoots 85.1% on 8.4 attempts per game; that's tied for tenth in the league with MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.
This game was a prime example of how Avdija's rare ability to get to the line elevates his floor. He's able to generate offense even without shooting the ball well, which adds more consistency to his game -- another trait typically only possessed by stars.
Thanks to Avdija's newfound floor, the Blazers are able to win these kinds of games that they'd have no business staying in last season. It was their first win of the season where they attempted fewer field goals than the opposing team, which shouldn't come as a surprise, as Portland's identity lies in winning the possession battle.
They weren't even efficient in these limited attempts, shooting 40.9% from the field as a team. But Portland's grit was on full display, which started with Avdija (he beat the "free-throw merchant" Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at his own game!)
Thanks to his improved three-point shot and ability to get to the line on a consistent basis, Avdija should have the numbers to make a strong All-Star case even in the Western Conference. Ultimately, it could come down to what Portland's record is at the time. But at 5-3 with signature wins over teams like the Nuggets and Thunder, the Blazers could be right in the mix. It goes hand in hand, as Avdija is strengthening his own case by contributing to winning basketball.